Despite a landslide vote, Republican leaders didn't have enough votes to endorse a school superintendent candidate.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published June 19, 2004
LAND O'LAKES - After the audience finished firing questions at school superintendent candidate Chuck Rushe - on the Penny for Pasco sales tax hike, on his vote in the 2000 presidential election, on teacher morale - Rushe doubted the endorsement would go his way.
Chairman Bill Bunting acknowledged as much when he thanked Rushe and his opponent, Heather Fiorentino, for coming to the meeting.
"For some people," Bunting said, looking at Rushe, "it's like walking into a lions' den."
Even if the lions are Rushe's fellow Republicans.
The local Republican Executive Committee, the leadership of the Pasco GOP, took an unusual step Thursday night toward endorsing a candidate for superintendent of schools - even though both of the main candidates are Republican. Normally the party stays out of the primary. GOP voters pick the nominee at the polls, and the party backs that candidate in the general election.
But on Thursday night the committee questioned the superintendent candidates and cast secret ballots to endorse one. In a dramatic twist, a handful of last-minute abstentions left the group six votes shy of the necessary quorum for an endorsement.
Among the ballots cast, however, Fiorentino enjoyed a 52-5 landslide, Bunting told the Pasco Times.
"I call that an overwhelming vote of confidence, if nothing else," said Ann Bunting, the chairman's wife and a voting member who has contributed $100 to Fiorentino's campaign.
Rushe called it a political stunt.
"I don't think it's any secret that Bill Bunting is supporting my opponent," Rushe told the Pasco Times on Friday. "Certainly it's apparent he's going to use the party, he's going to use Republicans, he's going to use the Republican Executive Committee in any way he can . . . to achieve his agenda."
An endorsement still could be forthcoming. If the group can scrape together the necessary votes - from at least 63 of the 125 members - an endorsement could be made at a future meeting, Bill Bunting said.
Thursday's vote came two weeks after a successful ploy to limit the Aug. 31 party to only Republican voters by placing a write-in candidate on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Before write-in candidate James Griffin entered the race, all voters would have been able to vote in the primary pitting state Rep. Fiorentino, a former teacher, against Rushe, the school district's chief financial officer. That's because Florida law allows everyone to vote in a primary unless there is a challenger in the general election.
Griffin became that challenger earlier this month. The son of a Republican Executive Committee member, Griffin entered the race to ensure only Republicans could vote in the primary.
Then came the endorsement effort.
Several members objected to the effort, saying the party should not try to influence voters.
"I think it's divisive to make a decision to endorse one candidate over the other," said Lynda MacPherson, who abstained from the vote.
But Ann Bunting argued for the endorsement: "It's really critical for the Republican community to know which candidate is more representative of Republican principles."
Both candidates made their pitch. Rushe emphasized his 29 years of experience in the school district, which now has 59,000 students, 7,500 employees and a $640-million budget.
Fiorentino emphasized her people skills, classroom experience and Tallahassee connections built during her six years as a legislator. She said teacher morale is low and the current administrators are out of touch.
"I will not be a superintendent who sits on the third floor (of the school district offices) and whose face is not known in the schools," Fiorentino said.
The questions asked by committee members focused on the differences between the candidates.
Rushe said he supported the school district's decision not to place anti-Penny for Pasco sales tax literature in the schools, as the school district was promoting the tax. Fiorentino said she would have allowed the literature.
Fiorentino supported George W. Bush in 2000. Rushe declined to say how he voted.
Rushe disputed Fiorentino's description of low teacher morale: More than 80 percent of the Pasco County schools received A's or B's this year on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, a sign that teachers and students are doing well, he said.
Bob Dorn, a Republican and one of the school district's administrators, argued that Rushe had the know-how to run the district: "There are many wonderful teachers in the classroom," Dorn said, "but they don't have the ability to run an organization with a $640-million budget."
But Jeff Lucas, president of the West Pasco Republican Club, said Fiorentino's "enthusiasm and teaching experience" made her uniquely qualified. Rushe, by contrast, could be replaced as the district's chief financial officer if Fiorentino wins, Lucas said.
"We could find 100 people from the state to fill that position," Lucas said. "One plus one equals two. It's accounting."
- Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is hall@sptimes.com
